Bastakia (Old Dubai) & Mosque

Escape the skyscrapers of the city centre and travel back in time with a trip to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, also known as Bastakiya. This atmospheric area in Bur Dubai is one of the oldest heritage sites in the city, with a neighbourhood that dates back to the early 1900s. A tour of the area offers a beguiling glimpse into the Dubai of a bygone era including traditional wind towers, bustling courtyards and maze of winding alleyways.

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Arabic: حي الفهيدي التاريخي‎‎; also known as Al Bastakiya) is a historic district in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The construction of Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood dates back to the 1890s. In its prime, the locality was capable of supporting 60 housing units, most of which were separated by narrow, winding lanes.

In the 1980s half of the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood village was destroyed to make way for the development of a new office complex. The remaining houses were mostly used as warehouses or accommodation for foreign laborers. In 1989 Dubai Municipality directed that the remaining parts of Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood were to be demolished. Rayner Otter, a British architect, came to the area and made extensive renovation in the house where he was staying. Rayner started a campaign to preserve the area, and wrote a letter to Prince Charles who was scheduled to visit Dubai that year.

On his arrival Prince Charles asked to visit Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, and explored the whole area with Rayner Otter. During his visit Prince suggested that Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood should be preserved and the demolition of Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood was canceled.

In 2005 a project was initiated by Dubai Municipality to restore the locality’s of old buildings and lanes.